Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery

Human Microphysiological Systems (hMPS), otherwise known as organ- and tissue-on-a-chip models, are an emerging technology with the potential to replace in vivo animal studies with in vitro models that emulate human physiology at basic levels. hMPS platforms are designed to overcome limitations of t...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Raquel E. Ajalik, Rahul G. Alenchery, John S. Cognetti, Victor Z. Zhang, James L. McGrath, Benjamin L. Miller, Hani A. Awad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.846230/full
_version_ 1819120814128103424
author Raquel E. Ajalik
Raquel E. Ajalik
Rahul G. Alenchery
Rahul G. Alenchery
John S. Cognetti
Victor Z. Zhang
Victor Z. Zhang
James L. McGrath
Benjamin L. Miller
Benjamin L. Miller
Hani A. Awad
Hani A. Awad
author_facet Raquel E. Ajalik
Raquel E. Ajalik
Rahul G. Alenchery
Rahul G. Alenchery
John S. Cognetti
Victor Z. Zhang
Victor Z. Zhang
James L. McGrath
Benjamin L. Miller
Benjamin L. Miller
Hani A. Awad
Hani A. Awad
author_sort Raquel E. Ajalik
collection DOAJ
description Human Microphysiological Systems (hMPS), otherwise known as organ- and tissue-on-a-chip models, are an emerging technology with the potential to replace in vivo animal studies with in vitro models that emulate human physiology at basic levels. hMPS platforms are designed to overcome limitations of two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems by mimicking 3D tissue organization and microenvironmental cues that are physiologically and clinically relevant. Unlike animal studies, hMPS models can be configured for high content or high throughput screening in preclinical drug development. Applications in modeling acute and chronic injuries in the musculoskeletal system are slowly developing. However, the complexity and load bearing nature of musculoskeletal tissues and joints present unique challenges related to our limited understanding of disease mechanisms and the lack of consensus biomarkers to guide biological therapy development. With emphasis on examples of modeling musculoskeletal tissues, joints on chips, and organoids, this review highlights current trends of microphysiological systems technology. The review surveys state-of-the-art design and fabrication considerations inspired by lessons from bioreactors and biological variables emphasizing the role of induced pluripotent stem cells and genetic engineering in creating isogenic, patient-specific multicellular hMPS. The major challenges in modeling musculoskeletal tissues using hMPS chips are identified, including incorporating biological barriers, simulating joint compartments and heterogenous tissue interfaces, simulating immune interactions and inflammatory factors, simulating effects of in vivo loading, recording nociceptors responses as surrogates for pain outcomes, modeling the dynamic injury and healing responses by monitoring secreted proteins in real time, and creating arrayed formats for robotic high throughput screens. Overcoming these barriers will revolutionize musculoskeletal research by enabling physiologically relevant, predictive models of human tissues and joint diseases to accelerate and de-risk therapeutic discovery and translation to the clinic.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T06:26:38Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7d2bad37ea37494e8463c222c9b07b70
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2296-4185
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T06:26:38Z
publishDate 2022-03-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
spelling doaj.art-7d2bad37ea37494e8463c222c9b07b702022-12-21T18:35:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852022-03-011010.3389/fbioe.2022.846230846230Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic DiscoveryRaquel E. Ajalik0Raquel E. Ajalik1Rahul G. Alenchery2Rahul G. Alenchery3John S. Cognetti4Victor Z. Zhang5Victor Z. Zhang6James L. McGrath7Benjamin L. Miller8Benjamin L. Miller9Hani A. Awad10Hani A. Awad11Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesCenter for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesCenter for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Dermatology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesCenter for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United StatesHuman Microphysiological Systems (hMPS), otherwise known as organ- and tissue-on-a-chip models, are an emerging technology with the potential to replace in vivo animal studies with in vitro models that emulate human physiology at basic levels. hMPS platforms are designed to overcome limitations of two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems by mimicking 3D tissue organization and microenvironmental cues that are physiologically and clinically relevant. Unlike animal studies, hMPS models can be configured for high content or high throughput screening in preclinical drug development. Applications in modeling acute and chronic injuries in the musculoskeletal system are slowly developing. However, the complexity and load bearing nature of musculoskeletal tissues and joints present unique challenges related to our limited understanding of disease mechanisms and the lack of consensus biomarkers to guide biological therapy development. With emphasis on examples of modeling musculoskeletal tissues, joints on chips, and organoids, this review highlights current trends of microphysiological systems technology. The review surveys state-of-the-art design and fabrication considerations inspired by lessons from bioreactors and biological variables emphasizing the role of induced pluripotent stem cells and genetic engineering in creating isogenic, patient-specific multicellular hMPS. The major challenges in modeling musculoskeletal tissues using hMPS chips are identified, including incorporating biological barriers, simulating joint compartments and heterogenous tissue interfaces, simulating immune interactions and inflammatory factors, simulating effects of in vivo loading, recording nociceptors responses as surrogates for pain outcomes, modeling the dynamic injury and healing responses by monitoring secreted proteins in real time, and creating arrayed formats for robotic high throughput screens. Overcoming these barriers will revolutionize musculoskeletal research by enabling physiologically relevant, predictive models of human tissues and joint diseases to accelerate and de-risk therapeutic discovery and translation to the clinic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.846230/fullorgan-on-chiptissue-on-chipmicrophysiologic systemsmusculoskeletalmusclebone
spellingShingle Raquel E. Ajalik
Raquel E. Ajalik
Rahul G. Alenchery
Rahul G. Alenchery
John S. Cognetti
Victor Z. Zhang
Victor Z. Zhang
James L. McGrath
Benjamin L. Miller
Benjamin L. Miller
Hani A. Awad
Hani A. Awad
Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
organ-on-chip
tissue-on-chip
microphysiologic systems
musculoskeletal
muscle
bone
title Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery
title_full Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery
title_fullStr Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery
title_full_unstemmed Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery
title_short Human Organ-on-a-Chip Microphysiological Systems to Model Musculoskeletal Pathologies and Accelerate Therapeutic Discovery
title_sort human organ on a chip microphysiological systems to model musculoskeletal pathologies and accelerate therapeutic discovery
topic organ-on-chip
tissue-on-chip
microphysiologic systems
musculoskeletal
muscle
bone
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.846230/full
work_keys_str_mv AT raqueleajalik humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT raqueleajalik humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT rahulgalenchery humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT rahulgalenchery humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT johnscognetti humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT victorzzhang humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT victorzzhang humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT jameslmcgrath humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT benjaminlmiller humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT benjaminlmiller humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT haniaawad humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery
AT haniaawad humanorganonachipmicrophysiologicalsystemstomodelmusculoskeletalpathologiesandacceleratetherapeuticdiscovery